Relationship with responders normal organisational management

The RP’s emergency arrangements are activated in emergencies which seriously obstruct the normal functions of its partners or demand action be taken that requires a special deployment of resources.

Experience has shown that recovery is most effective when it commences as soon as possible after an emergency has occurred. In view of the importance of recovery for the affected communities, the strategic group should consider its recovery strategy at the earliest opportunity following an emergency. If there is a need for multi-agency co-ordination, the RP’s generic plans and structures provide a sound foundation within which multi-agency recovery can be managed.

Management arrangements should be reviewed constantly to ensure their appropriateness to current and anticipated conditions. Managers should be aware that one important measure of the success of recovery is a return to the normal ways of providing services.

The length of time that RP recovery arrangements need to continue will vary according to the nature and scale of the emergency. Arrangements should be stood down once there is no longer the need for regular multi-agency co-ordination and any remaining issues can be dealt with by individual agencies’ normal business. Depending on the recovery issues being addressed, it may be possible to stand down some elements of the overall arrangements on a phased basis. The continuing needs of the community will be key to the decisions to modify or stand down special management arrangements, which should continue to provide a joined-up and seamless approach for as long as necessary.

When a decision to stand down special arrangements has been taken, the community should be informed and provided with details of how services can be accessed in the future.